AndrewDavies

Biography

Date of birth

Height

Signed

Country

Matthew Bates clinched the signing of one of his top summer 2018 transfer targets when Andrew Davies put pen to paper on a deal at Victoria Park.

The experienced defender has turned down the chance to extend his three-year stay with Ross County in favour of a move back to his native North East with Pools.

A former England Under-21 international who has played in the Premier League, Davies came through the ranks at Middlesbrough alongside Bates and went on to be a regular in the First Team as they made it to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the Final of the UEFA Cup Final.

Having gained further experience with loan spells at Queens Park Rangers, Derby County and Southampton, he joined the latter permanently in 2008 in a deal reported to be worth around £1million.

Stoke City then stumped up £1.3million to take the highly-regarded defender to the Britannia Stadium but injuries affected his time in the Potteries and, after a series of loan moves, he reignited his career with a switch to Bradford City.

He played 125 times in all competitions for The Bantams – including in the 2012/13 League Cup Final – before earning a move to the Scottish Premiership with Ross County in 2015.

Davies was immediately installed as skipper at Dingwall and went on to captain the club to their first piece of silverware when they saw off Hibernian to win the 2015/16 Scottish League Cup.

County were keen to keep him in the Highlands despite their relegation in 2017/18 but Bates moved quickly to persuade the star that his future lay at The Vic.